ONE of Scotland's most notorious killer's has sparked fury after demanding compensation for being denied the chance to rebuild life his behind bars.

Arthur Duncan, jailed for the rape and murder of a young woman, claims prison chiefs' failure to provide him with rehabilitation courses breached his human rights.

Duncan, who was an 18-year-old soldier in the Royal Artillery when he strangled Linda Bull in 1970, says the move has hampered his chances of freedom.

A judge ruled there was "prima facie case" to answer in a move which could see Duncan get a payout from the Scottish Government.

But the move under the European Convention on Human Rights was condemned by MSPs and campaigners.

Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: "This is an insult to those who are deserving of the help of the court.

"And it's even more of a slap in the face to the victim of a depraved killer who deserves nothing in the way of a financial bonus from the taxpayer."

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be rightly outraged to see their money being spent on paying damages to a convicted killer.

"Rehabilitation is an important part of our judicial system but far too often we see convicted criminals and their lawyers taking our judicial system for a ride, with criminals being treated like victims and receiving hefty payouts at the taxpayers' expense.

"This compensation culture has got to stop."

Aberdeen-born Duncan is Scotland's longest-serving prisoner after more than 43 years behind bars.

Duncan was jailed for life for clerk Linda's murder in Andover, Hampshire.

After the savage late-night attack, he took a photo from the victim's handbag "to see what she looked like".

The 22-year-old's naked body, was found the next day in a driveway just 300 yards from her home.

A psychiatrist believed Duncan had an abnormal mind because of "sexual oddities and sadistic fantasies".